Melton

Melton's population grew in the decade to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in marriage, religion and ethnicity.

The population passed 50,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Melton increased by 5.2%, from just under 47,900 to 50,400.

The addition of just over 2,500 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Melton was home to, on average, 0.75 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across the East Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the East Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Melton

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Melton increased by three years, from 40 to 43 years.

This rural area had a higher average age than the East Midlands and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 1,900 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 2,000.

About 13% of people in Melton are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Melton by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Melton

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Melton, but at a slower rate than across the East Midlands.

In Melton, the proportion of single people increased from 23% in 2001 to 27% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 28% to 32%.

Across the East Midlands, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 28% to 32%.

The proportion of married people in Melton fell from 59% to 54%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 9.8% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

More single parents

The percentage of households in Melton, which comprised a single parent, increased from 6.7% to 8.6% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 4 in 10 (39%) households had a married couple, compared with 45% in 2001. The percentage of households in Melton, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.9% to 11%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 8.8% in 2001 to 9.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent in Melton increased by 1.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in Melton, the East Midlands and England that had a single parent, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

Melton saw the East Midlands' second-largest fall in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

In 2011, just over 1 in 11 (9.1%) households in Melton had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 10.0% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 30% to 28%.

Across the region, only Hinckley and Bosworth saw a greater fall in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents (from 11% to 9.7%).

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Melton residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.3% to 3.7% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (84%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 72% in 2001. The percentage of Melton residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21% to 13%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 9.4% in 2001 to 5.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Melton decreased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Melton, the East Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Melton

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 24% said they had no religion. The figure increased from 24% in 2001

The number of people in Melton that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 6,400 in 2001 to about 12,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 13% to 24% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious affiliation.

The percentage increased by less than the average across the East Midlands (from 16% to 27%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Melton that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 38,000 in 2001 to about 34,000 in 2011 (from 79% to 68%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 3,200 to about 3,300. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 6.6% to 6.5%.

Just over 210 people (0.3%) said they were Hindu, up from about 160 in 2001 (0.4%).

The population without a religion in Melton increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Melton by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Melton

The percentage of Melton residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.5% to 7.4% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 2.5%, while the percentage of Melton residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 90%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 7.3% in 2001 to 6.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Melton

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 98% said they were from the White ethnic groups. The figure increased from 98% in 2001

The number of people in Melton from the White ethnic groups increased from about 47,000 in 2001 to about 49,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the local population, this represented a decrease from 99% to 98%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the East Midlands (from 93% to 89%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Melton from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 300 in 2001 to just under 520 in 2011 (from 0.6% to 1.0%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 230 to about 410 (from 0.5% to 0.8%).

About 95 people (0.1%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 39 in 2001 (0.2%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Melton remained close to 98%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Melton by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Melton, but at a slower rate than across England.

In Melton, the proportion of private renting increased from 9.3% in 2001 to 14% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Across the East Midlands, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.5% to 15%.

The rate of social housing in Melton fell from 12% to 11%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 76% to 72%.

Private renting in Melton increased by 4.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in Melton, the East Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Melton working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 16% to 13% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.9%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.8% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 14% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Melton decreased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Melton, the East Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of Melton residents that were unemployed increased from 2.4% to 2.9% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 57%, while the percentage of Melton residents that were self-employed increased from 10% to 11%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 3.4% in 2001 to 4.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were unemployed across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Melton residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.7% to 2.0% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.8%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 2.2% in 2001 to 2.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Melton remained close to 2.0%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Melton by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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